Cigar smoking: Safer than cigarettes?

My husband insists that cigar smoking is safer than cigarette smoking. Is this true?

- Lois / Nebraska

Mayo Clinic pulmonologist Edward Rosenow, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Many cigar smokers may believe their habit is relatively safe compared to cigarette smoking, but this isn't true. There's no safe level of tobacco smoking — including cigar smoking. The risk from any type of tobacco use depends on the intensity and frequency of exposure.

Regular cigar smoking increases your risk of mouth and throat cancer. If you inhale the smoke, your risk of lung disease, such as emphysema, and lung cancer is also increased. Former cigarette smokers who start smoking cigars tend to inhale more than those who have not previously smoked cigarettes. Even if you don't inhale the smoke, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke from cigars increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer.

In addition, second-hand smoke from cigar smoking is just as — and possibly more — dangerous than second-hand smoke from cigarettes.